Baste Duterte tops second-choice picks for 2028 presidency in WR Numero survey

Mayor Sebastian "Baste" Duterte was the most popular second choice for president among respondents in a recent nationwide survey by WR Numero Research, according to Mindanao Times. The poll looked ahead to the 2028 presidential election.

The survey, conducted from October 7 to 13, 2026, found that 21.3 percent of respondents named the mayor as their secondary presidential preference. The survey firm noted that this figure was about half of the 42.4 percent that Vice President Sara Duterte received as voters' primary choice.

On first-choice preference, the Vice President was followed by Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo at 15.9 percent and Baste Duterte at 6.9 percent. Senator Raffy Tulfo had 6.7 percent, Senator Robin Padilla 3.8 percent, Senator Bam Aquino 2.5 percent, Senator Risa Hontiveros 2.0 percent, Senator Kiko Pangilinan 1.9 percent, and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. 1.5 percent.

Among second choices, Baste Duterte led by a wide margin. Tulfo came next at 10.0 percent, followed by Robredo at 9.4 percent, Padilla at 9.3 percent and Sara Duterte at 8.6 percent. Aquino and Hontiveros received 6.9 percent and 5.5 percent, respectively.

"The support of the voters has been focused on the camp of the Duterte family, but VP Sara continues to be the first choice of a large percentage of the public," WR Numero said.

According to the regional breakdown, the mayor's secondary support was highest in Mindanao, at 41 percent, and in Metro Manila, at 29 percent.

The firm said the survey was conducted through face-to-face interviews with 1,225 adults and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.6 percent.